boyer



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

I. D. & E. E. L. BOYER.

SPINNING TOP.

No. 593,173. Patented Nov. 2, 1897.

J 9 e 7 3- 4 923 10. WITNESSES,- 1NVE;%RS

UNITED STATES PATENT FFlCE.

ISRAEL DONALD BOYER AND EDITH E. L. BOYER, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNQRS TO CLARK (S6 BOYER, OF- SAME PLACE.

sPI N N lNG-TO P.

SPEGlIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 593,173, dated November 2, 1897.

Application filed December 7, 1896. $erial No. 614,824. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, ISRAEL DONALD Bevan and EDITH E. L. BoYEn, citizens of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county. of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented anew and useful Improvement in Spinning-Tops, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is of a top having an open handle loosely mounted on its spindle and provided with means for holding picture or other cards which make beautiful efiects as they whirl around. These cards, being attached to the handle, may be removed and others substitutedwhile the top is spinning. The string is permanently attached to the spindle within the handle, so that it spins with the top. Holding the top by the handle in one hand and reciprocating the string with the other it constitutes a back-and-forth Whirligig. If suspended by a string attached to one side of the handle, the whole top will revolve slowly in a horizontal plane about the string as an axis in the manner of a gyroscope.

Referring to the different views of the drawings, Figure l is an elevation of the top and handle complete. Fig. 2 is also an elevation of the top and handle, but the handle is shown in a position at right angles to that shown in Fig. 1. This figure also shows in dotted lines how a second wheel may be placed on the other end of the spindle. Fig. 3 is a plan. Fig. 4 is a view of the handle before it is bent into shape. This is simply a piece of sheet metal punched to the form shown, with the holes h h, slots 3 s, and ears d e c. Fig. 5 shows the handle bent into form, but not yet fastened. together. Fig. 6 shows the finished handle in section. Just above the handle is shown a card ready to be slipped down into the slots 3 s. Fig. 7 is an external view of the completed handle and of the card, this view being taken at right angles to Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a top view of the completed handle. Fig. 9 is a bottom view of the same. Fig. 10 is a view showing one of the slots 3 in detail and considerably enlarged. Fig. 11 shows the complete top with a card in the handle all ready for spinning. Fig. 12 shows the top used as a gyroscope. a-separate body may be loosely mounted on the end of the spindle and driven and then by inverting the spindle may be dropped oil to spin alone on the floor. Fig. 14 is a front elevation of a tin card-holder, which may be inserted in the top of the handle. Fig. 15 is a plan view of the same.

As here illustrated, the top consists of a spindle having a head at its upper end and a heavy-rimmed wheel securely fixed to it near its lower end. On the spindle between its head and the wheel the handle is loosely mounted. This handle is made of a single piece of sheet metal stamped to the shape shown in Fig. i, with the holes h 71, slots 5 s, and ears cl 0 6. This strip of metal is bent around a form until it assumes the shape illustrated in Fig. 5, the ear 61 passing between the ears 6 e, as there shown. These three ears are then bent over, as shown in Figs. 6, 7, and 9. This looks the ends of the handle firmly togetherand finishes it. The holes 72. h form bearings for the spindle to turn in.

The string is attached through a hole in the spindle midway between the bearings. Aknot on its end prevents it from pulling through the hole and leaving the spindle. The slots 3 8 form the means of attaching cards to the handle. One of these slots is shown in detail and much enlarged in Fig. 10. It consists, essentially, of three bearing points or edges, a. and b on one side and c on the opposite side and between a and Z) and projecting so close to the line joining a and I) that the thinnest card will when inserted in the slot touch all three of the points a, b, and c. Any card thicker than this must bend a little. The point 0 may of course extend quite to the line a. b or even alittle beyond it. In this case every card will have to bend no matter how thin it may be. This form of slot enables cards of various thicknesses to be held securely.

By referring to Figs. 3, 6, 8, and 11 it will be seen that the slots 5 s begin on the curved part of the handle. This permits the card 0 to be pushed down into the slots. It is not necessary that a card should fit into both these Fig. 13 shows how slots. Almost any irregular piece of card or strip of paper may be fastened in one 'slot only,

bining them in different ways, some on one side of the handle and some on the other.

Figs. let and illustrate a tin holder for holding rectangular cards. The cards for use in connection with it need have a picture on but one side, and two cards may be slipped into the holder back to back, thus enabling a large number of combinations of pictures to be made. This tin holder slips into the slots 8 s in the handle the same as the card C, Figs. 6, 7, and 11.

As illustrated; the body of the top consists of a wheel, but this is not essential. low body with reeds may be employed, or, in fact, any desired. kind of body or two bodies may be used, one near each end of the spindle with the handle between them, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, or the body may be loosely mounted on the spindle with provision so that it may hedriven thereby. Then if the top be held with the body uppermost itmay be spun,after which it may be inverted, allowing the loosewbody to drop ofi and spin independently in the manner illustrated in Fig. 1a

Having now described our invention, what A hol-' we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a tophandle, a curved slot to hold a card, said slot having two bearing points or edges a and b on one side and a single bearing point or edge 0 on the opposite side and about midway between a and h, the three points a, b and c being'so arranged that the distance of a from the line joining a and b is not greater than the thickness of the thinnest card to be held, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a spinning-top the combination of a card having an open-ended slot in its lower edge to enable it to pass astride the spindle, and a handle loosely mounted on the spindle and having holding devices on its sides to hold the card, substantially as described.

3. In a spinning-top an open handle loosely mounted on the spindle of the top and free to turn thereon; means to prevent'said handle from leaving the spindle; means for attach ing a string tosaid spindle within the handle; means for attaching cards to the handle; all in combination substantially in the manner and for the purpose specif ed.

IS? ET. DONALD BUYER.

E. Ll BUYER.

Witnesses:

J OHN L. H. FRANK, GEO. W. FRANK. 

